Calendar of SA Marine Life for 2014

The Marine Life Society of SA's annual calendar of SA Marine Life for 2014 is now available. Further details can be found at the Facebook page for the calendar at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SA-Marine-Life-Calendars-by-the-Marine-Life-Society-of-South-Australia/238264916242379. Contact us through this blog or email to marinelifesasecretary@adam.com.au to order your copies. Visit www.mlssa.asn.au for more details.

2012 MLSSA Journal

The 2012 MLSSA Journal can be viewed at http://www.mlssa.asn.au/journals/2012journal.pdf

Blog being rested

Steve's Scuba Site blog is being 'rested' whilst Steve concentrates on the Scuba Divers Federation of South Australia's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/448643155213641/ .
There will still be some scope for blogs at http://stevessharksite.blogspot.com.au/ and possibly http://stevesshipwrecksite.blogspot.com.au/, but blogs at http://www.stevesscubasite.blogspot.com.au/ may become superfluous since most things will probably go on the Scuba Divers Federation of South Australia's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/448643155213641/ . I trust that this does not overly concern any of my followers. Many thanks for your past interest. I hope that you will still be able to follow my postings on the Scuba Divers Federation of South Australia's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/448643155213641/ .

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTabout diving on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico

If you happened to miss “Foreign Correspondent” on ABC 1 on 12^th March, about diving on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, visit http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2013/s3710545.htm.  The program was devoted to saving the aquifer, which is slowly being swallowed up by Cancun’s tourism ‘en masse’. The link was originally a preview but it now includes the full program.

UNDERWATER MARRIAGE PROPOSAL IN SYDNEY

On Sunday 10th March, a scuba diving couple became engaged underwater in Sydney. The lady was so surprised when the man popped the question. She had to hold her regulator in to stop it from coming out as she caught her breath. The moment can be seen on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOFNQqEIzZ8 . To see photos of the happy couple, visit http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152198813230476 .

NAUTILUS LIFELINE

“The Nautilus Lifeline incorporates both a GPS and a personal DSC (Digital Selective Calling) enabled VHF marine radio into a compact polycarbonate housing waterproof to 130m. Designed to be conveniently carried on every dive, in the event a diver surfaces some distance away from the boat, by simply opening the top of the unit and depressing the green button the diver can contact the dive boat on a pre-selected “chat” channel. The diver can then relay his or her exact location by reading out the GPS coordinates on the large LCD screen positioned on the side of the unit. In the event the diver cannot contact the dive boat they can then choose the orange button which allows transmission on VHF Channel 16 (International marine distress frequency). This will allow the diver to speak with any VHF equipped vessel or shore station within range. In an emergency situation, the diver can also send an automated distress signal by pushing and holding the red button for three seconds. In this situation all modern VHF marine radios within range will receive an automated distress signal alarm and your exact coordinates will be visible on the readout of their marine VHF radio. In automated distress mode the range is double the range of normal voice communication. The inventor of the Nautilus Lifeline, Mike Lever, a live aboard charter operator of more than 20 years, was focused on a solution for the very real problem of lost divers, however, end users started to realise that the opportunity was much larger than just diving. The Nautilus Lifeline is now being used by a wide variety of water sports enthusiasts including stand up paddlers, sea kayakers, kite boarders, jet-ski riders, rock fishermen, etc... Literally anywhere on or near the water is a potential market. Years ago no one had even thought of a pressure gauge, a BCD, an octopus - let alone a dive computer or a safety sausage. One by one, all of these items have become mandatory pieces of equipment. The Nautilus Lifeline in our opinion is as important as any of these devices.”

PICCANINNIE PONDS DECLARED A RAMSAR SITE

Steve at Piccaninnie Ponds (Taken by Peter Gower)

On 25^th January, the Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, announced that Piccaninnie Ponds in the south-east of South Australia had been added to the Ramsar list of wetlands of international significance.